Electrical standard



May 12, 1936.

D. V. EDWARDS ELECTRICAL STANDARD Filed Jan. 16, 1955 INVENTOR Dona/0 Via Wards. Y

W, M a- PM.

ATTORNEYS Patented May :12, 1936 PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL STANDARD 7 Donald V. Edwards, Montclair, N. J., assignor to Electrons, Incorporated 0! Delaware, a corporation oi. Delaware Application January 16, 1935, Serial No. 2,059

16 Claims. (Cl. 17l--242) This invention relates to electrical devices which serve as standards of comparison for eleotrical quantities, and more particularly to a standard and its associated apparatus by which an electrical quantity or value is maintained in definite predetermined relation to a value created by the standard.

Objects of the invention are to provide an unvarying standard of comparison for an electrical quantity and to regulate an electrical device or circuit in accordance therewith.

According to the invention a magnetic armature is placed in a permanent magnetic field and is saturated by a minor portion of the magnetic flux of said field. The armature is provided with means for creating a counter flux therein, such as a winding on the armature having an impressed voltage that varies with the electrical quantity to be compared or controlled. A separate winding on the armature has a voltage in duced in it only when the counter flux is sumcient to reduce below saturation (orto reverse) that portion of the permanent flux which is in the armature. This induced voltage may be used to control a circuit or device capable of reducing the quantity to be controlled which is thereby prevented from increasing above a certain predetermined value or standardset by the permanent magnetic field.

Several embodiments of the invention have been selected for the following description which should be read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which,-

Fig. 1 represents an electrical standard according to the invention, the figure being partly diagrammatic;

Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram of one application of I the invention;

Fig. 3 shows curves representative of certain relations in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram of a modified form of the invention, and

Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram of another embodiment constituting a voltage regulator for an alternating current generator.

In the several figures like reference characters indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to Fig. 1, two well-aged permanent magnets l are connected to soft iron pole pieces 2 and 3 so that like magnet poles are connected to the same pole piece and provide an air gap of relatively large cross section between the pole pieces. A magnetic armature 4 of relatively small cross section is fixed in this air gap and bridges the pole pieces. Its ends may be supported directly upon the pole pieces, or by inter posed pieces of non-magnetic material, so that the armature is immovable relative to the magnets and pole pieces. The armature is provided with two windings 5 and 6, one of which, 5, is a primary adapted to be energized either directly or indirectly from the source to be controlled. The other winding, 63, is a secondary adapted to be connected to a controlling device or circuit.

The magnets, pole pieces and armature are so proportioned that the magnetizing force in the air gap of large cross section is large compared to that required to saturate the armature, for instance fifty times as great, and so that the total flux across the said air gap is large compared to b the flux in the saturated armature. Such proportioning prevents alternating currents in coils 5 and 6 from gradually demagnetizing the per manent magnets and also keeps the changes in said total flux relatively small even though the armature flux is changed or reversed. The magnets I should be made of steel having a high degree ofv permanency, such as the steel used for permanent magnets in electric meters. The ar matured may be a rod or wire which preferably, should have very high permeability with a sharp bend in its magnetization curve at the point of saturation, and be saturable by a relativeli small magnetizing force. Transformer steel is satisfactory and some alloys of nickel, iron and cobalt, or two of these metals, have the desired properties to a high degree, one such alloy having the trade name Permalloy. The whole structure should be well aged to insure that the permanent magnetizing force between the pole pieces 2 and 3 will be unvarying to a high degree of accuracy throughout the useful life of the instrument.

The device shown in Fig. 1 constitutes an electrical standard of comparison and operates as follows. Normally the armature 4 is magneticallysaturated, as stated, by a portion oi. the total flux between pole pieces 2 and 3. The voltage to be compared, or a voltage bearing a definite relation to a quantity to be compared, is impressed across the coil 5 but the resulting magnetomotive force does not change the flux in the armature unless it opposes the magnetomotive force of the magnets l and until it becomes almost equal to the latter in the space within the coil 5. If there is no change in flux in the armature no voltage will be induced in coil 6. However, it the difference between the opposing magnetomotive forces becomes less than the force required to saturate the armature, its flux will be reduced or reversed and a voltage will be induced in coil 6. It the armature 4 is made of good transformer steel or of a special alloy, as described above, a slight excess or magnetomotive force from the primary 5 will cause a sudden change in armature flux from saturation in one direction to satura tion in the opposite direction, thereby inducing a relatively high voltage in the secondary 8. Such voltage may be detected or measured in any suitable manner. Thus the instrument oi Fig. 1 indicates when a voltage or other quantity bears a desired relation to the constant magnetomotive force of magnets I.

Fig. 2 illustrates how the voltage induced in secondary 6 may be utilized to regulate the source of the voltage applied to primary 5. Parts I to 6, inclusive, correspond to those of Fig. 1 except that a single permanent magnet is used in the standard. The winding 6 is connected in the grid circuit of a grid-controlled gaseous discharge tube 8, and in series with the usual grid resistor I and a source of bias potential 9. The latter is shown as a battery but may be an alternating current source if it is phased to prevent tube 8 from starting when there is no voltage across the winding 6. A transformer III supplies the cathode heating current for tube 8, the grid return being made to the midpoint of the transformer secondary. The primary of transformer III is connected to a suitable source of alternating current I2 which also supplies the discharge current for tube 8 through a load or output device I3. Terminals I4 should be connected to the source of voltage to be controlled (not shown). In some cases a resistance I5, preferably having azero temperature coeflicient, is inserted in the connection between one terminal I4 and the coil 5; also, an inductance I6 may be bridged across the coil if it is desired to adjust its voltage phase relative to source I2. The resistance I5 and inductance I6 are so chosen that the current flowing through coil 5 produces a magnetomotive force in armature 4 not quite equal to that of the permanent magnet I when the desired voltage is applied at I4. The source I2 may be obtained from the device to be controlled and should be synchronous with the source I4 it the latter is alternating.

The operation of the control circuit of Fig. 2 is as follows. The polarities of the connections are such that, when the voltage at I4 rises above the desired value and causes a voltage to be induced in winding 6 as described above, the induced impulse makes the grid of tube 8 less negative, or positive, when its anode is positive, thereby starting the discharge current through the tube and the load I3. The energy in the load circuit may be used in any suitable manner to cause a reduction of the voltage at I4, thus causing this voltage to be maintained at the desired value. If the phase of the voltage across coil 5 leads the voltage of source I2 by about 60 electrical degrees, the tube 8 will start early in its positive halt-cycle and its full output will be obtained. Such phase relation may be obtained by proportioning resistance I5 and inductance I6, or a condenser may be substituted for resistance I5 and the inductance omitted.

The conditions existing in the circuit of Fig. 2 are indicated in Fig. 3 wherein the curve E represents the supply voltage I2, the half-cycles above the axis representing positive potentials on the plate of tube 8 relative to its cathode. M represents the constant magnetomotive force of the permanent magnet I. The curve N represents the varying magnetomotive force due to the current in winding 5. Curve F represents, to an enlarged scale, the flux through armature 4 the straight horizontal portions indicating saturation thereof. Curve Ea is the voltage generated in coil 6 by changes in flux F when the voltage at I4 is too high, that is, when the peak of curve N slightly exceeds the value of M as shown. It is the positive half of voltage Es that starts the discharge in tube 8 and thereby applies a corrective impulse to the device from which the voltage I4 is derived. The negative half of E0 has no effect because the discharge in tube I. once started, is not stopped by a negative grid potential until the anode voltage falls to zero.

The control circuit of Fig. 2 is of the all-on, all-off type and is adapted to buck down the controlled voltage when it tends to exceed the desired value.

Fig. 4 shows a modification which provides a gradual increase in current through tube 8 as the voltage increases above normal. This is accomplished by an additional or tertiary winding I! on armature 4, supplied with a small alternating current lagging the plate voltage of tube 8 by nearly Such current may be obtained from transformer ID by means of a secondary winding I8 and series inductance I9. The voltage I4 to be regulated is rectified by connecting it across the primary of a transformer 20, a sec- 1'.

ondary winding II of which supplies plate current to a gaseous discharge tube 22. Another secondary winding 23 provides the cathode heating current for tube 22. The rectified output is obtained as usual from center taps on the secondary windings and may have a smoothing condenser 24 connected therebetween. A resistance I5 in series in one of the connections to coil 5, limits the rectified current flowing through the coil and maintains it substantially proportional to the voltage I4.

In the arrangement of Fig. 4 the magnetomotive force acting upon the armature 4 consists of that due to the permanent magnet I, vectorially added to that from coil 5 proportional to the regulated voltage, and to an out-of-phase component from coil II. No current flows in tube 8 until the voltage I4 increases to the point where the magnetomotive force of, coil 5 plus that of coil Il at its maximum value in the same direction, equals the magnetomotive force of the permanent magnet. Due to the phase shift in the current of coil II this occurs only in the latter part of a positive half cycle for tube 8. The flux in armature 4 then changes abruptly and generates a voltage in coil 6 which starts tube 8 in the latter part of the positive half cycle and passes a corrective current of short duration through the load I3. If the voltage I4 continues to increase the magnetomotive force of magnet I is equalled at an earlier point in the cycle, secondary voltage in 6 is generated earlier, a larger portion of the half cycle is passed through tube 8, and more current flows through load I3. If, despite this correction, voltage I4 increases to the extent that the magnetomotive force of coil 5 minus the maximum magnetomotive force of coil I1 equals that of the permanent magnet I, the flux in armature 4 will reverse near the beginning of the positivehalf cycle and tube 8 will pass the full positive current wave. Preferably the alternating magnetomotive force of the winding I I is made small compared to that oi! the permanent magnet, a ratio of 1:20 being satisfactory.

Thus a gradual increase of tube current is obtained as the voltage ll increases somewhat over its normal value, thereby giving a smoother correction than that obtained from the circuit of Fig. 2. If desired the circuit of Fig. 4 may be adjusted so that the normal value of voltage ll is'obtained when tube 8 starts at an intermediate point in' the positive halt cycle of its plate potential and provides a partial bucking eflect each cycle. In such case the regulation will be effective in either direction, that is, if voltage it tends to go above normal more current will be passed by tube 8 and thus buck the voltage down, whereas if the voltage tends to fall below normal less current will be passed by tube 8, thus reducing the bucking eflect and allowing the voltage to regain its normal value.

Fig. 5 shows how an arrangement similar to Fig. 2 may be used as a voltage regulator for an alternating current generator 21. In this case the load I3 may be an auxiliary field which opposes the main field 28 of the generator. The main output terminals 29 provide the source of all potentials for the regulator and thus take the place of sources I? and I4 of Fig. 2. A transformer 88 has its primary winding connected across terminals "and its secondary winding 8| connected in the grid circuit of tube 8 so as to bias the grid negatively when the anode is positive. Secondary 3! thus takes the place of battery 8 in Fig. 2.

Normally, field 28 is adjusted to give greater than normal voltage at terminals 29 when there is no load on the generator 21. The portion or this voltage which is impressed on coil 5 is suflicient to reverse the flux in armature 4, induce an impulse each cycle in coil 6, and thus cause a current to pass through tube 8 and field l3. This current reduces the resulting field of generator 21 and holds down the output voltage at 29 to its normal value. When a load current is drawn from the generator its voltage will tend to fall, whereby tube 8 will start less often and permit the resulting field to increase sufficiently to keep the voltage at 29 normal.

Modifications maybe made to adapt the above described standard to speed control and similar applications, because any quantity which can be converted into a proportional electrical voltage or current may be used and compared to the unvarying standard magnetomotive force of the permanent magnet, and the difference used to generate voltage impulses which, in turn, may control a relatively large current or voltage by means of a trigger-type gaseous discharge tube.

An advantage of such a magnetic device over former arrangements is that it has a fixed value independent of frequency, ambient temperature, and ageing effects, the last at least to as high degree" as the permanent magnet meters in present use.

I claim: 1

1. An electrical standard comprising a permanent magnet adapted to create a constant magnetomotive force across an air gap of large cross section, a magnetic armature of relatively small.

cross section disposed in said gap and saturated by said magnetomotive force, a winding on said armature adapted to create an opposing flux therein without materially afiecting the total flux in the air gap of large cross section, and a second winding on said armature in which a voltage is induced only when the armature flux is reduced by the first winding.

2. In combination, a permanent magnet, a pair 01 pole pieces therefor providing an air gap of large cross section for the permanent magnet flux, an armature of relatively small cross section bridging said pole pieces and normally saturated by said magnet, means for creating a counter flux in said armature, and a winding responsive to flux changes in the armature.

3. In combination, a permanent magnet having a fixed air gap oi. large cross section between its poles, a normally saturated magnetic armature oi relatively small cross section fixed in said gap, and means for creating a counter flux in said armature without demagnetizing the permanent magnet.

4. A standard of comparison comprising means for creating a permanent magnetomotive fierce, an armature magnetically saturated thereby, means for creating in said armature an opposing magnetomotive force which is responsive to a quantity to be compared, and means associated with said armature and adapted to indicate when the armature flux is reduced below saturation by said opposing magnetomotive force.

5. A regulator comprising means for creating a permanent magnetomotive force, an armature magnetically saturated thereby, means for creating in said armature an opposing magnetomotive force which is responsive to a quantity to be regu lated, a winding on said armature, and means responsive to voltages induced in said winding for varying said quantity.

6. A control system for a grid controlled gaseous discharge tube, comprising a permanent magnet, a magnetic armature normally saturated thereby, a winding on said armature connected to a source of control voltage so as to oppose the fiux in the saturated armature, a grid circuit for said tube which normally prevents starting thereof, and a second winding on said armature connected in said grid circuit so as to start the tube when the control voltage is suflicient to change the flux in the armature. r

7. A control system for a grid controlled gaseous discharge tube, comprising a permanent magnet, a magnetic armature normally saturated thereby, and windings on said armature, one connected to control said tube and one responsive to a controlling force and adapted to reduce the armature flux below saturation.

8. A control system for a grid controlled gaseous discharge tube, comprising a permanent magnet, a magnetic armature normally saturated thereby, a winding on said armature connected to control said tube, and another winding responsive to a voltage to be controlled and adapted to induce an impulse in the first said winding when said voltage exceeds a value determined by the magnetomotive Iorce of the magnet.

9. A control system comprising a normally saturated magnetic member, a primary winding thereon responsive to a controlling force and adapted to desaturate said member, and a secondary winding on said member adapted to control said force.

10. A control system comprising a source of voltage to be controlled, a grid controlled gaseous discharge tube having a load circuit capable of controlling said source, a grid circuit for said .tube, a permanent magnet, a magnetic armature normally saturated thereby, a primary winding on said armature the current in which is responsive to said voltage, and a secondary winding on said armature connected in said grid circuit.

11. A control system as defined in claim 10 including a rectifier connected between said pri- ,mary winding and the same oi voltage'to be controlled. and a tertiary winding-on said armature' connected to a source oi alternating current phased to lead the voltage in said load circuit.

12. A control system for a grid controlled saseous discharge tube comprising a source of alternating' anode potential for said tube. a per- I manent magnet,

said armature, and a third winding on the arma-' ture connected approximately 902' 13. A voltage regulator for an alternating current generator comprising a normally saturated sponsive to the generator voltage for changing 'the flux in said me by the auxiliary winding opposes the main field flux.-

15. A voltage regulator for an alternating current generator at supplying the cathode heating current and grid bias, respectively, for said discharge tube.

18. A control system for a grid controlled gaseous discharge tube, comprising a permanent magnet, a magnetic armature normally saturated thereby, and three windings on said arms.- ture, the first winding connected to control said tube, the second responsive to a controlling force and adapted to reduce the armature flux below saturation, and the third adapted to modify the eilect oi the second win DONALD V. EDWARDS.

generator as defined in claim 13 whereindisoharge tube so .that the ileld defined in claim 13 and means energized from the output of said generator for 

